★★★★★ Five-star rated on Google · SC Lic. CLG.127339

Outdoor Kitchens That Survive the Salt Air

The difference between an outdoor kitchen that lasts twenty years and one that looks tired in three is entirely in the specification.

Get Your Fixed Price → ☎ (843) 718-8177

Covered outdoor kitchen at dusk with a stone-clad bar island, built-in grill, stained tongue-and-groove ceiling, paddle fans and string lights over the patio

Licensed CLG.127339

Quick answer: An outdoor kitchen in the Charleston area typically runs $12,000 to $55,000. The spread is mostly cabinetry material and whether gas, water and drainage have to be run. Southeastern Renovation is a licensed South Carolina general contractor (CLG.127339) serving Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, James Island, West Ashley, Summerville and downtown Charleston. Every project is fixed-price in writing and backed by a 1-year workmanship warranty. Call (843) 718-8177 for an estimate.

200+ Renovations

Outdoor Kitchen Construction

Outdoor Kitchens That Survive the Salt Air

An outdoor kitchen is the one renovation where the Charleston climate does most of the deciding. Salt-laden air corrodes ordinary stainless. Humidity swells and delaminates cabinet boxes built for an indoor room. Standing water finds any counter that was not pitched to drain.

None of that is a reason not to build one. It is a reason to build it out of the right materials the first time — marine-grade or powder-coated aluminium cabinetry rather than wood, 316 stainless rather than 304 near the water, and stone that will not spall when it takes rain and sun in the same afternoon.

Serving Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, West Ashley, James Island and Summerville — and the York County and Charlotte SC-metro side from Clover. Part of our Outdoor Living work.

Your Estimate in 3 Simple Steps

Plan the utilities first

Gas, water, drainage and power decide both the layout and most of the cost. We map them before we talk about door styles.

Fixed price, in writing

Appliances, cabinetry, counter, utilities and finish, priced and signed before we order.

Two to five weeks

Utilities and base, then cabinetry, counter and appliances. Permit and HOA submission included.

Recent Outdoor Kitchen Construction Projects

Mount Pleasant

Built-in grill, side burner and undercounter refrigeration, three weeks

Daniel Island

L-shaped run with a covered bar and honed granite counter

Isle of Palms

Marine-grade cabinetry and 316 stainless, two blocks from the beach

Why Charleston Homeowners Choose Us

Materials chosen for the address

What we spec three miles inland and what we spec on Isle of Palms are not the same cabinetry or the same stainless.

Counters that drain

Pitched, sealed, and detailed so afternoon rain leaves rather than sits. It is the detail that decides how it ages.

One licensed contractor

Gas, electrical and plumbing coordinated under one fixed price and one licence, not three trades you have to schedule.

Permit and HOA handled

Gas and electrical runs are permitted work. We submit and track it.

Common Questions

How much does an outdoor kitchen cost in Charleston?

Most land between $12,000 and $55,000. A grill cabinet with a counter and no new utilities sits at the bottom of that. A full run with gas, water, drainage, refrigeration and a covered structure sits at the top. The biggest single swing is whether gas and water already reach the location or have to be trenched to it.

What materials actually last in Charleston salt air?

Powder-coated marine-grade aluminium or 316 stainless cabinetry rather than wood or 304 stainless, which pits and bleeds rust within a few years close to the water. For counters, granite and porcelain handle the freeze-thaw and UV cycle better than most engineered quartz, much of which is not rated for outdoor use and will discolour. The closer you are to the ocean, the more this matters.

Do I need a permit for an outdoor kitchen?

If it involves gas, electrical or plumbing — which nearly all of them do — then yes. A freestanding grill on an existing patio does not, but a built-in run with a gas line and outlets is permitted work and is inspected. Covered structures also trigger setback and lot-coverage review, and on Daniel Island the Design Review Board.

Can an outdoor kitchen go on my existing patio or deck?

On a concrete patio, usually yes. On a wood deck it depends entirely on framing — stone counters and masonry bases are heavy, and a deck built for a table and chairs is often not built for that load. We check the framing before pricing, because reinforcing underneath is the kind of surprise that should never appear halfway through a job.

Ready to talk about your outdoor kitchen construction?

Fixed price in writing · SC licensed CLG.127339 · Workers’ comp and liability on every jobsite

Get Your Fixed Price ☎ (843) 718-8177

Plan the cost around your scope and location

Specify cabinets, work surfaces, appliances, cover and utility connections. Compare whether site preparation, electrical or plumbing work, installation and final connections are included.

Browse cost guides by project and location

Published ranges are planning references for the scope and location named in each guide. Confirm your address, selections, allowances and exclusions in a written estimate. Fixed-price and cost-plus contracts are both available depending on scope.